Companion

Character Role Analysis

John Wheelwright

Oh, John Wheelwright. He's our trusty narrator, and we get the vibe that he gets to be our narrator precisely because of his relationship with Owen. They're lifelong best friends. In fact, they are such good friends that it seems like both boys are the brothers that the other never had. Owen and John are, to borrow a phrase from Forrest Gump, just like peas and carrots. They are totally different but they complement one another so well. As kids, they never seem to leave each other's side. As a result, John is privy to a lot of information about Owen's life and witnesses things about him that other people might not understand. He notices all of the little, seemingly insignificant details that somehow come together to make up Owen's grand narrative.